Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-04-07
BLAINE AT ST LOUIS.

The Maine Statesman Makes q Brief and
Felicitous Speech in Response to a Cor.
dial Reception by the st. Louis Merchants
Exchange.
ST. LOUIS, March 31-Hon. Jas. G.. Blaine
and party, consisting of Mrs. Blaine, Miss
Blaine, Miss Dodge, who has made herself
famous under the nom de plume of Gail
Hamilton, the cousin of Mrs. Blaine, and
Mr.. Stephen B. Elkins, arrived in the city
last night and were met at the
Union depot by citizens COM
mittee, who escorted them to car.
riages in which they were driven to the
Lindell Hotel. Crowds surrounded his
quarters at the hotel and he was given a
warm welcome. He, in response to an in
vitation from the committee appointed for
the purpose, stated that he would not
enter into political speech, but accepted
the invitation and delivered the following
at the Merchants Exchange this afternoon
to large and enthusiastic audience:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: l can well say
that it is equally surprise and graf
ification to myself to be here at this mo.
ment. I arrived in your beautiful city
last evening, and may say that was not
only honored with an invitation, but
served with notice to be here at this
time. GApplause.1 And having long
been under good discipline, 1 re.
sponded. But as Maine man, ]
am sure feel at home in Missouri, for
old Colonel Benton had a happy remark
which he always addressed to Main men
that Maine came into the Union on the
back of Missouri, or Missouri came into
the Union on the back of Maine, he didn't
know which, but they both got in togeth
er. fApplause.l And so we have had
strong bond of sympathy because of our
twin birth as States in the Federal Union.
l was IN this city long before the vast
majority of the gentlemen whom l have
the honor to address. / saw st. Louis for
the first time very nearly forty years ago.
1 was but boy, but 1 found that in tray
cling a boy has larger eyes thau.a "a. man OF
mature years; and at that time in the
course of a few days ramble I knew
every street and alley, and pretty much
every steamboat that landed at your
wharf. But though have a somewhat
retentive memory, must say am now
lost in the maze of this magnificent en-
porium, and the little city of 10000 which
then found on the banks of the Missis-
sippi is altogether unrecognizable to-day.
therefore, although 1 have in the inter-
val been here some three or four times,
may claim myself to be stranger to the
great and magnificent proportions which
myself, and could not recognize as l
started out upon your streets this morn
ing, the old landmarks which were once
familiar to me. Your growth, gentlemen,
is the growth of the Republic. TCheers.
In a peculiar sense your growth is the
growth of the trans Mississippi Republic;
a republic which is far greater one, q
far grander one, a far richer one than the
Federal Union when Missouri became
member of it. And it is in that great re
gion hitherto and as yet scarcely de-
veloped-it is in that great region.
that this city is to have it's i'm
With twenty thousand
miles of river by which you are connected
with steam navigation, with forty thou
sand miles of railway in the old territory
of Louisiana, which did not have one SOL
itary mile when was first in this city
with all these vast agencies of transporta-
ton, what may not be expected of this
place! You have that which, as a Repre-
sentative in Congress, was long since
made familiar with-you have that jeal
ous, that wltchful care Of your access to
the sea for which the original Territory of
Louisiana was purchased under the ad-
of Jefferson.
1t was to give this Western country &C
the Mississippi was desired as an Ameri-
can river; and the people of st. Louis do
well, and the people of st. Louis do wisely
to jealousy guard that great outlet to the
waters of the world. Loud cheers1. But,
gentlemen, with all the congratulations
which feel it in my heart to extend to
you, with all the compliments which your
immense growth calls from every lip, I
feel that have one reproach against st.
Louis lSensationl. 1 feel that have
one reproach against this great trans
eighty years ago it belonged to foreign
power, and by the narrowest possible
chance it was kept from falling into the
hands of England; but the watchful care,
the great nerve and courage, the states
nanlike grasp of Thomas Jefferson,
between the policy OF
France and the aggressive energy
Of Great Britain, plucked the whole |!
territory of Louisiana from the am
bition of both, and made it into an Ameri- !
,an State [cheersl; and that vast domain |
represented in seven great and prosper !
ous States and three large Territories, !
which in the course of time will add four |
Dr. five States, possibly, to the American |;
Union.
Never was conquest so great, 50 ex- !,
-ensive, acquired by peaceful methods. !
Never was so great a conquest made by |
war that a conquering power was able to |
mold. Then, let me say, that my reproach |,
70 st. Louis-my reproach to every foot |,
and every inhabitant of the territory of !
Louisiana, is that on it's entire surface,
which represents third part of the Unit !!
I'd States, there is not a statue raised to the .
honor of Thomas Jefferson. Loud cheers |!
St Louis is the capital, the emporium, /
and will be for all time, of that which was /,
the territory of Louisiana. More cheers.l !
will be forgiven, am sure, for remind |
ing you that gratitude to the great man !
who has gone, gratitude to that great man !
who, in the annals of American |
greatness, should stand next to !
Washington, / will be forgiven, I am |
sure, when 1 say that the duty of st. Louis |
and the duty of the merchants of ST. Louis !
is to erect within your beautiful city |
statue of him who more than any other !
man by scratch of pen, created an en- |
pire. Loud cheers.
Gentlemen, thank you very sincerely |
for your cordial reception. Mr.. President, !
am profoundly indebted for your words |
of courtesy. 1 am here simply as your |!
guest; and am impressed so by it that ] |
shall not commit the offense of trespass |
ing upon your patience, but with my cor !
dial wishes for your increased and ever !
increasing prosperity, l bid you good :
Enthusiastic and continued /
applause.]
Ticklish Ground.